Mackey wins Southern Junior in sudden death

When David Mackey drained a 30-footer for birdie Friday on the 18th hole at Country Club of Virginia in Richmond, Va., he didn’t know it would secure him a spot in a playoff for the Southern Junior title. Mackey, the University of Georgia-bound 15-year-old from Bogart, Ga., didn’t think he was close to the lead. That putt, however, pitted him against second-round leader Mark Lawrence Jr. in sudden death.

Mackey birdied again on the first playoff hole to defeat Lawrence and claim the prestigious junior title.

“I thought I was eight or 10 strokes back. I had no idea I was close,” said Mackey, who pulled to within one shot of Lawrence with that closing birdie.

Lawrence, from Richmond, Va., three-putted from 15 feet at No. 18, which effectively erased the 5-shot cushion he took into the final round.

“I wanted to win so bad. This is a really big tournament,” said Lawrence, a last-minute entry.

Lawrence and Mackey finished 54 holes at 2-under 214. Will Minton of Raleigh, N.C. was third at even-par 216 while Will Chandler of Atlanta was another shot back in fourth with Scott Stevens of Chattanooga, Tenn.